LOCRI, the country of the three Grecian tribes, the Locri Ozolæ, the Locri Epizenemidii, and the Locri Oputii, is supposed by Niebuhr to have extended originally from the Corinthian Gulf on the W., to the Eubœan Sea on the E., until broken up into two parts by the immigration of the Dorians and Phocians. The Locrians thus became two distinct tribes, differing in manners and civilization, and separated by Doris and Phocis. The eastern tribe, the Locri Epizenemidii and Oputii, were the more civilized; the western, the Locri Ozolæ, are represented by Thucydides as semi-barbarians even at the time of the Peloponnesian war.
The territory of the Locri Epizenemidii and Oputii extended along the shore of the Eubœan Sea, from the pass of Thermopylæ to the mouth of the River Cephisus, and was divided into two parts by a narrow slip of Phocis that runs down to the sea-coast. The southern part was inhabited by the Oputii, so called from Opus, their chief city. The Epizenemidii held the northern part, and derived their name from Mount Cnemis, the boundary between their country and Boeotia. The towns of the Oputii were,—Alope, Cynus, Opus, Halæ, Larymna, Calliarus, Naryx, and Corseia; those of the Epizenemidii were,—Alpenus, Nicæa, Scarphæ, Thronium, Cnemis, Tarphe (afterwards Pharygæ), and Augeia. Homer mentions the eastern Locrians as following Ajax, the son of Oileus, to the Trojan war with forty ships. In the Persian war the Oputii fought on the side of Leonidas at Thermopylæ, and sent their contingent of seven ships to the Grecian
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flect. They also joined the Epienemidii in an alliance with Sparta during the Peloponnesian war.
Lodri Ozolæ occupied a district on the Corinthian Gulf, bounded on the E. by Phocis, on the N. by Doris and Ætolia, and on the W. by Ætolia. The origin of their name is uncertain. Different authors severally derive it from the smell (ὄζα) emitted by the sulphur-springs at the foot of Mount Taphiassus, from the fragrance of the asphodel that abounded in the country, and from the undressed skins (ὄζα) worn by the primitive inhabitants. The Locrians themselves traced it to the branches (ὄζα) of a vine peculiar to that district. The country is rendered mountainous by offsets from Mount Parnassus in Phocis, and from Mount Corax in Ætolia. The only river worthy of note is the Hylethus (Morno). Amphissa, lying near the borders of Phocis, was the most important town of the Ozolæ. The other towns were, — Molycreia, Naupactus, Cneon, Anticyra, Eupatium, Erythrae, Tolophon, Hessus, Ceanthe, Ipsus, Chalcum, Ægitium, Hyle, Crocyleium, Messapia, Myonia, Olpa, Potidania, Teichium, and Tritæa.